So, a week prior to my stated last day at work (10 Apr 2020), I notified my boss I would stay on for another year. He got me put back on the payroll, and I was included into the 4 day rotation of research nurses in the office/clinic. As Good Friday (my proposed last day) came, followed by my birthday (the alternate start date in North Dakota), I worked on embracing the idea of "training" for the North Country Trail (NCT) this summer vs actually hiking the NCT. Thank goodness the North Country Trail Association created the virtual #hikefromhome allowance to their annual Hike 100 Challenge.
This new knowledge got me motivated to get started, and I headed out on my first hike from home adventure in training for my now NCT Thru-hike2021. Colorado was shelter in place except for essential activities and luckily, exercise is considered essential in Colorado. I left my home about midday and headed out with my trusty dog, Jasper (who won't be able to join on the true NCT due to animal restrictions in certain areas along the trail).
The first adventure I recorded was to Green Mountain and back home. An adventure that took me 9.39miles and made me realize how many people use the trails at Hayden Green Mountain Park to recreate. So, I peeled off the main trails on to the animal trails to maintain social distancing guidelines. Then followed the C-470 bike path to the neighborhoods, past the shelter where we got Jasper, and back home after a stop at the water ditch for Jasper to swim a little and cool off.
The second adventure was longer than the Green Mountain adventure, and I made sure there was plenty of water involved for the dog. Jasper and I took off from home and headed to Crown Hill Park, 3miles northeast of my home. We ventured through neighborhoods to get there, and then wandered the entire perimeter prior to moving towards the lake in the middle and thus allowing Jasper to swim and cool off. We enjoyed taking in the adornments of people's yards. On the return home, we stopped to say a little prayer at the outdoor statue of Our Lady of Fatima, enjoyed some time in a water ditch, and met up with my husband with whom we shared our day's adventures. Eleven miles completed for this hike and to get us to 20miles of the 100 goal.
On to the third adventure. For this adventure, Jasper and I took off from home again heading towards downtown Denver, namely Sloan's Lake. My husband warned me it was going to be busy at Sloan's Lake, but I was not aware just HOW busy it was going to be, and I was glad I had my thicker buff to use as my mask. A lot of my loop around Sloan's Lake consisted of walking not on the concrete path but through the grassy yard areas. Occasionally, Jasper & I would duck in to the lake to cool off the dog. Then, it was a matter of completing the loop as quickly as possible and returning home. I had hoped to stop by Joyride Brewing to pick up some crowlers and support one of my favorite beer joints. Unfortunately, they were not open at the time of my return. On the way to Sloan's Lake, I forgot to mention walking a little of the 40 West Artline. It is such a neat little artistic walk along the Lakewood Gulch bike path that then goes up and past Casa Bonita north of Colfax Avenue. I revisited this path on my birthday hike from home. This one got us 14miles.
Adventure #4 was to the west and in to Golden, CO. This one was a little more adventurous as the snow had started. The day before was the above mentioned trip to Sloan's Lake where it was beautiful and sunny. My what a night can bring. So, Jasper and I bundled up, and headed to Golden, CO on foot. It is amazing what snow does for recreation and social distancing. I have to say, it reconfirmed my love of snowy weather. The whole 14miles, I saw maybe 5 people, a far cry from the 30-50 people I saw the day before. Also, my sunburn from the day before turned into frostbite for this adventure day. We were planning on doing a loop, until I lost Adventure Jane and had to retrace my steps to find her. Luckily, nobody was on the paths, so I had no problem finding her. Another 14miles brought me to 48miles of the 100mile goal.
The next adventure, #5, was my birthday adventure where I met my 2 favorite coworkers/good friends at Casa Bonita and took them on a tour of the 40 West Artline. We had so much fun touring in the snow (a little worse than the day before). There were so many fun interactive things along the art path that we decided we would need to revisit in better weather and after quarantine. This day, I wore my unicorn onesie for warmth and my friend brought me birthday decorations that I wore on the walk of the artline as well as all the way home. It was probably my favorite hike of all of them, and covered 12miles.
Adventure #6 was to take some presents to a friend who lives 5 miles north of me. I was planning on dropping it on her front porch and then notifying her I had left them. Fortunately, she passed me along the road as I was nearing her home. So, she sat on her porch swing and I stood by the road while her kids played in the yard, and we had a great time catching up. After leaving her place, I had the pleasure of revisiting some enjoyable neighborhoods I had not toured for a long time. There were lots of tulips and hyacinth out to remind me of "wildflowers." We were nearing the end of our 100miles. This adventure brought the total to 70miles after having completed 10miles.
Almost finished...
Adventure #7 took me and Jasper south from home with our eye on hitting Bear Creek as a watering hole and cooling off spot. The creek it self was pretty busy, but we stayed near the creek and were able to do pretty well at social distancing. It was a fun adventure covering locations I had not visited for a while. Jasper enjoyed the creek, and we both were happy to see my husband at 2miles to go on the 14.5miles.
The final adventure was back to Golden, only this time we went all the way to Clear Creek and back home over South Table Mountain for a total of 16.75miles. This adventure was the longest one and completed the 100mile challenge. It was a beautiful sunshine day and there were many people out. Luckily, my paths were in neighborhoods where I could cross the road or walk down the middle of the road as needed to keep 6ft from everyone. On South Table, there was enough wind to fly my backpacking pocket kite, and enough water for Jasper to keep hydrated without the water in my backpack.
It was good to complete the miles, but none of these compare to the adventures of the NCT. These adventures are routes I have run, walked, or biked so many times I could have done it blindfolded, and were completed between stressful days of work, either from home or in the clinic. The joy of a thru-hike of any long trail is to reconnect to people and see how communities across the nation interact. It is also a joy to be able to remove yourself from overpopulation and technology to view the beauty of the woods and again how the community interacts with nature. Being able to count on yourself and remember how to take care of yourself using the minimal items available or relying on strangers/strange communities, adds to the adventure of a long distance hike, as well. I will continue to adventure close to home until I can finally head out on the NCT in April of 2021. These mini-adventures have re-ignited my love of touring on foot even in the places I have visited so many times. There are always new things to see, find, and do even in the known places of your neighborhood.
